Chinookan Sunset, 2007

Medium: Fir, Spruce, Cedar

Dimensions: 14’ x 14’ x 12”

Project partners: Washington State Arts Commission, SRG Architects

This 14’ diameter Panel is an abstract Sun based on elements from the indigenous art form of Southern Washington and Northern Oregon.  These types of designs would also have been found in Puget Sound.  On the panel there are four Spruce paddles, the upper pair are a Quinault type of paddle, while the lower are a type associated with the Chinook Tribe of the Columbia River area. The creatures are made of Red Cedar and represent (clockwise from top) an Owl, Coyote, Gull, and Bear. Wood from the construction was used in the creation of this piece.

Blue Heron Screen, 2005

Commissioned by: Kitsap County Arts Board for the new County Administration Building

Medium: 1/4” Plate Steel

Dimensions: 8.5’ x 4.5’ x .25”

This is a Steel screen that is part

 of a large sliding security door at the new Kitsap County Administration building.

Cut from steel, this screen represents a Great Blue Heron in a modernized Salish style. The door was designed by the artist with Miller Hull Architects.

Bud Merrill Pavilion Post, 2007

Medium:  Fir

Dimensions 12’ x 12” x 12”

Budget: Carving donated by artist

Project partners: Indianola Beach Improvement Club, Family of Bud Merrill, Steve Kilborn, contractor.

This post was carved as a donation for the effort to rebuild this neighborhood pavilion.  The pole is texture adzed and the carvings are inspired by the types of motifs indigenous to the Puget Sound area.

 Kids Up Park Elements

Commissioned by:

Kids Up Neighborhood Group

Medium: Red Cedar, Acrylic

Dimensions:  Mask 6’ x 4’ x 4’, Thunderbird 6’ x 2.5’ x 11”, Panels 18” x 40” x 3/4”

At Battle Point Park on Bainbridge Island the community took a year of fundraising and a week of volunteer construction to put together a great place for kids to play that embodied aspects of Washington State History. I created a large mask of a type used in our State as well as 4 panels representing native creatures in a local indigenous style and a fully sculpted thunderbird over the entry.

Terns, 2008

Commissioned by: Private Collector

Medium:  Red Cedar, Latex Paint

Dimensions:  31’ x 48” x 52”

Project Partners: Duane Pasco, Pritam Singh, Matsura Alaska Construction

This Totem represents a flock of Terns that circled the site during a Longhouse Opening ceremony.  The very concept of this pole was born from the place itself. The pole was carved from a tree harvested from the site and was carved on the site. The carvings are all executed in the style of the area using traditional tools in Misty Fjords National Monument near Ketchikan, AK.

Four Eagles Skylight, 2003

Commissioned by: Private Collector

Medium: Cast and Carved Glass

Dimensions: 8’ x 8’ x 8”

This large skylight was designed by the artist and created by Allen Dragge of Reflections Studio in San Francisco, California, for a private residence on Lake Tahoe.  The design represents four Eagles and is inspired by a type of Salish style spindle whirl.  The skylight is over a circular dining table the same size as the skylight which makes for an amazing, acoustical dining experience.

Flight of the Thunderbird, 2005

Medium: Douglas Fir

Dimensions: 17’ x 10.5” x 5”

Project Partners: Kitsap County Arts Board, Miller Hull Architect, Swinerton Construction

The large panel represents a Thunderbird with a Orca in its belly and Lightning Snake wing tips. The far panel is a pattern of ascending Thunderbirds. Killer Whale and Thunderbird are legendary enemies in the lore of Puget Sound.  Both panels are painted and then carved in relief. The door represents themes indigenous to the area. The door is carved of Fir which was a material used throughout the building, blending the art seamlessly with the structure.  This large sliding security door was designed by the artist with Miller Hull Architects.

The Chief of Mink Bay, 2008

Commissioned by: Private Collector

Medium:  Red Cedar, Latex Paint

Dimensions:  35’ x 42” x 30”

Project Partners: Duane Pasco, Pritam Singh, Matsura Alaska Construction

This Totem represents a Chief wearing a Clan Hat, a Button Blanket and sitting on a chest.  He is holding a King Salmon. Nothing looks more appropriate than indigenous art forms erected in an area they emerged from using traditional tools and working in the place itself. The pole it sits atop was carved on the site in Misty Fjords National Monument near Ketchikan, AK.

Pacific Giant Octopus Door, 2005

Commissioned by:  Kitsap County Arts Board

Medium: Douglas Fir

Dimensions:  9’ x 12’ x 5”

Project Partners: Kitsap County Arts Board, Miller Hull Architect, Swinerton Construction

This door designed by the artist with Miller Hull Architects represents The Pacific Giant Octopus, a resident of the Sound.  The panel on the right is a detail of the Octopus’s tentacles. The design is painted and carved in relief.  The creatures featured are all native species to Port Orchard, Washington and the Puget Sound Area.  The use of the tentacle detail and the way the doors are divided into panels was to have a modern expression with traditional values and to be a functional part of the architecture.

The Salmon Run, 2005

Commissioned by: Kitsap County Arts Board

Medium: 1/4” Plate Steel

Dimensions: 8.5’ x 4’ x .25”

This steel screen represents a spawning school of salmon. It is designed in a modernized version of Salish design a style with historical relevance to the Puget sound area. The Steel screens and doors were designed by the artist in cooperation with Miller Hull Architects. The screens were intended to merge the Art with the architecture and materials of the structure itself. 

Wind Cliff Panels and Mantle, 2004

Commissioned by: Private collectors for their home in Indianola, WA.

Medium:  Douglas Fir

Dimensions:  Panel: 53” x 18” x 4”,

Mantle: 8” x  13” x 72”

Project Partner:  Robert Jones

Owner, Architect, Designer

These panels were designed to represent the creatures of the sky on the left and creatures of the sea on the right.  The mantle is designed with a bird face in a clamshell corona in its center with a wind motif moving to the creatures of the wind side, while waves march toward the creatures of the water. The mantle and panels are made of the same fir the room is finished with.  I worked closely with the architect/owner to create a focal point that was an extension of the interior and exterior setting, revealed in light and shadow and the warmth of unpainted wood.  

Totem Longhouse, 2004

Commissioned by: Private Collector

Medium: Red Cedar, Acrylic

Dimensions: 13’ x 11’ x 21’

Project Partners:  Smith Design Group Incline Village, NV, Q&D Construction, Reno, NV, Designco, San Francisco

This structure, complete with four removable totems is architecturally based on a Northwestern Longhouse frame. The creatures represented on the totems are all native to the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe area where the Longhouse is installed. All surfaces on the structure are hand texture adzed and is also wired for lighting.

Poulsbo Library Arches and Panels, 2003

Commissioned by:

The Poulsbo Friends of the Library

(a non-profit community organization.)

Medium: Douglas Fir

Dimensions: 9’ x 13’ x 2”

These arches and panels are one of several works at the library based on traditional Norwegian architecture and the Urnes period of Norwegian design. This style was utilized in order to best reflect the heritage and history of the town of Poulsbo, Washington where the work is installed.

Medium: Acrylic

Dimensions: 2’ x 18’

This is one of several works in a variety of media for the Poulsbo Library. The design is in the Urnes Style of Viking Artwork.  This style was utilized to best represent the heritage and history of this town founded by Norwegians. The painting was executed on the existing information desk. This is a good illustration of what a simple graphic can add to an interior scene.